A remarkable collection of Special Forces memorabilia, discovered in an attic, has sold for over £3,500 at an auction. The items belonged to Leslie Scott, who, during World War Two, downplayed his role as an officer by claiming he was merely a cook.
Among the treasures found were two rare wing badges from the Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force (SAARF), a unit formed in early 1945 to conduct daring missions behind enemy lines to assist Allied prisoners of war. David Duggleby Auctioneers described the badges as 'the stuff of which collectors' dreams are made.'
The auction took place on Thursday, with the first lot, including Captain Scott's medals and photographs, selling for £2,100. The second lot, featuring the other wing badge, fetched an impressive £1,500.
Jess Tarver, a specialist valuer at the auction house, explained that the SAARF was a rapid assembly of 360 British, American, and European parachute-trained volunteers. Their mission was to parachute reconnaissance teams close to POW camps, monitoring conditions and calling for help if needed.
During one notable mission, half of the 18 men involved were captured, but they successfully convinced the camp commandant to allow the evacuation of prisoners as Allied forces advanced.
Captain Scott's relatives were initially unaware of the valuable items they had, which had been stored in an attic in North Duffield, near York, for 16 years. The discovery began when they posted surplus items on eBay, leading to a £1,000 bid for the wings, prompting them to seek professional advice.